How life has changed in South Holland

South Holland's population increased by about 11,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 88,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Holland increased by 15.4%, from about 76,500 to 88,300.

The addition of almost 12,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Holland was home to, on average, 0.85 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Holland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Holland increased by one year, from 44 to 45 years.

This area had the third-highest average age in the East Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 400.

About 14.0% of people in South Holland are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Holland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

South Holland saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Holland said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 20.9% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.5% to 2.3%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of people working long hours occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 19.1% to 12.2%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Long hour working in South Holland decreased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in South Holland

South Holland saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.5%) people aged 16 and over in South Holland said they were married, compared with 59.6% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 20.6% to 25.4%.

Across the region, only Lincoln saw a greater fall in the proportion of married people (from 44.4% to 36.6%).

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53.4% to 48.5%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of South Holland residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.4%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51.9% in 2001. The percentage of South Holland residents that were self-employed increased from 9.8% to 10.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. The improvement brought health in South Holland close to the national average 4.4% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of unemployment in South Holland increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

South Holland saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.4%) households in South Holland had at least one dependent child, compared with 25.7% in 2001. The percentage with no children decreased from 65.6% to 64.9%.

Across the region, only Boston (from 26.5% to 27.7%) and Derby (from 29.8% to 30.8%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with children.

During this period, South Holland fell below the Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire and Lincoln to become the East Midlands local authority area with the fifth-lowest percentage of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in South Holland

The percentage of South Holland residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.5% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.7% in 2001. The percentage of South Holland residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.8% to 89.3%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Holland

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in South Holland was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.5 points.

In 2011, 20.9% of respondents in South Holland gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 10.5% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 16.8% to 29.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in South Holland, 78.0% said they were Christian, compared with 88.8% in 2001. About 0.3% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.2% a decade prior.

In South Holland, 7.2% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.0% in 2001. Across the East Midlands, 6.8% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in South Holland increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East Midlands and South Holland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Holland, but at a slower rate than in Boston (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with South Holland).

In South Holland, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.4% in 2001 to 12.7% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Boston increased from 7.3% to 15.7%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 14.9%.

The rate of social housing in South Holland fell from 14.1% to 12.7%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76.5% to 72.6%.

Private renting in South Holland increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Holland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.3% to 6.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64.9% in 2001. The percentage of South Holland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25.8% to 15.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Holland decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Holland, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in South Holland, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 10.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in four (25.3%) households had only one person, compared with 25.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in South Holland which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 40.4% to 36.2%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in South Holland increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Holland, the East Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in South Holland

In 2011, 97.9% of South Holland residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.9% in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 93.2% to 88.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 0.9% of people in South Holland said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.4% in 2001. About 0.9% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.5% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.3%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in South Holland remained close to 97.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Holland by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of South Holland residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in South Holland remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Holland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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